Sealing joint for bottle closure capsules



y 7, 1953 T. FREDA 3,088,616

SEALING JOINT FOR BOTTLE CLOSURE CAPSULES Filed Nov. 10, 1960 INVENT R TULLIO FREDA ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,088,616 SEALING JOINT FOR BOTTLE CLOS CAPSULES Tullio Freda, 113 Rue Saint-Charles, Paris, France Filed Nov. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 68,392 Claims priority, application France Nov. 13, 1959 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-40) The present invention concerns, by way of a new industrial product, a sealing joint intended to be placed in the bottom of a capsule for closing bottles, flasks or like vessels.

Joints of this type have already been produced which are constituted by a convex cup having a suitable diameter and placed in position in the bottom of the capsule, the convexity of the said cup being turned towards the exterior. Joints of this type are usually made of a moulded plastic material, such as polyethylene. It has been observed, however, that such joints have the disadvantage of being crushed at the moment of screwing down due to the pressure applied at the neck of the bottle and that as a result, if a slight opening is accidentally formed in the capsule, for example as a result of vibrations, the sealing is no longer hermetically effected, since the joint is not endowed with sufficient elasticity to revert to its original shape. On the other hand, after opening and closing successively for a few times, it is also observed that, for the same reasons, the air-tightness is deficient in the case in which the bottle has not been completely stopped.

The present invention has for its object to provide a remedy for these drawbacks and, with this purpose in view, is directed to a joint of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in that said joint is provided with means intended to restore this latter to its initial shape after having been flattened.

It will be understood that such means have the result that the sealing remains hermetic even if-as is frequently the case--the capsule moves out of its position of total closure or even if the stopping of the bottle has not been completely efiected.

In a form of embodiment of the invention to which it would appear necessary to give preference, the means intended to restore the capsule to its original shape are constituted by spurs set on the concave face at an oblique angle so as to slant outwards and intended to come into contact with the bottom of the capsule. During the de formation of said capsule, these spurs take up positions which are more and more oblique and have a natural tendency, when the capsule is no longer subjected to pressure, to revert to their initial position, thereby also restoring the joint to its initial shape.

In accordance with an alternative form, means can additionally be provided for the purpose of restoring the joint to its original shape, in the form of a spring disposed axially on the concave face and intended to be applied against the bottom of the capsule.

In accordance with a further alternative form which is preferably employed in combination with the preceding forms, the means intended to restore the joint to its original shape are constituted by spurs set radially on the external periphery of the joint and intended to come into contact with the lateral wall of the capsule. These spurs, which are elastically compressed when the joint is deformed, have a tendency to revert to their original shape and, by virtue thereof, to restore the joint also to its original shape.

The spurs, springs or equivalent members are preferably moulded in one piece with the joint.

The present invention will in any case be clearly understood with reference to the description which follows be- "ice low, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated two forms of embodiment of the invention which are given by way of example only and not in any sense by way of implied limitation, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a joint in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a capsule fitted with the joint in accordance with FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the same capsule effecting the closure of a bottle; and

FIG. 4 shows in cross-section a capsule fitted with a joint in accordance with an alternative form.

Reference being made to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a joint in accordance with the present invention is constituted by a cup 1, the bottom of which is convex as shown in the figure and which is limited by a cylindrical wall 2. In the concave portion of the cup are set four spurs 3 which are at a slightly oblique angle with respect to the axes of symmetry of the cup. In addition to the above, a certain number of spurs 4 are disposed radially on the periphery of the cylindrical wall 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates the joint I mounted in a capsule 5 of conventional type. It can be seen that the spurs 3 come into contact with the bottom 6 of the capsule.

In FIG. 3, there has been illustrated the capsule 5 which is screwed on the neck 7 of a bottle 8. The rim of the neck has deformed the joint 1, which has thus caused the spurs 3 to take up a more oblique or slanting position such as that shown by the reference 3'. Similarly, the spurs 4 are elastically compressed against the cylindrical wall of the capsule. It will be understood that, if a slight unscrewing of the capsule takes place, or if the capsule is subsequently screwed down to an incomplete extent, the spurs 3 and 4, by moving back to their original position, tend to restore to the joint its original convex shape, with the result that the said joint thus provides a hermetic seal under all circumstances.

In FIG. 4, there can be seen a capsule 5 which is identical to the previous types, and in which there is fitted a joint 9 having the same shape as the joint 1, but on the concave wall of which is moulded a helicoidal spring 10 applied against the bottom 6 of said capsule. It is obvious that the spring 10 plays a part similar to that of the spurs 3 which have been described above.

The present invention is any case in no way limited to the forms of construction which have just been described; on the contrary, the invention is carried into practical effect whenever a joint of the type which has been illustrated comprises means for restoring the joint elastically to its initial position after deformation of said joint.

What I claim is:

A seal for caps for closing the mouth of bottles, flasks and the like containers, said seal comprising a deformable convex cup having a suitable diameter for being placed in position in the bottom of a cap, resilient spurs provided on said cup which are set to slant outwards from the concave face of said cup and which are positioned for coming into contact with the bottom of said cap, and further resilient spurs being provided on said cup extending radially on the external periphery of said joint and positioned for engaging the lateral wall of said cap.

OTHER REFERENCES Germany, H 11,085, III/64a, Nov. 10, 1955. Germany, M 13,948, III/64a, Oct. 25, 1956. 

